AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Clemens Is the One Doing the Punishing

Eventually, Roger Clemens probably will have to serve the five-day suspension for his antics during the playoffs last October. It can’t happen too soon for American League hitters.

Clemens pitched a three-hitter, walked none and struck out 11 Saturday at Boston as the Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 4-0.

Until Clemens appealed the suspension to Commissioner Fay Vincent, he was supposed to sit out the first five games. This was the fifth Red Sox game, and Clemens is 2-0.

In the season opener Monday at Toronto he went eight innings, giving up six hits, striking out six and also walking none.

The Indians are one of Clemens’ favorite foes. His 26th shutout improved his record against Cleveland to 15-2.

Carlos Quintana singled in two runs in the sixth after Tom Brunansky’s two-out double put runners on second and third. Brunansky singled in the final run in the eighth after Ellis Burks hit his fourth double in five games.

Clemens’ ability to put an end to Red Sox slumps continues. They had lost three in a row since he won the opener.

“I wanted to keep the ball in the park,” said Clemens, who has not given up a home run in 16 starts since July. “In my first game at home I was a little overanxious, but I had everything working for me.”

Oakland 4, Seattle 2--Jose Canseco promised rookie pitcher Kirk Dressendorfer he would hit a home run for his debut at Oakland.

Canseco kept his promise and Dressendorfer, with help from Curt Young and bullpen ace Dennis Eckersley, won his debut. He gave up four hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings. The relievers retired the last 10 batters. Eckersley went two innings for his second save.

The Athletics are 2-0 without injured Rickey Henderson, who will also sit out today’s game because of a strained calf muscle. Henderson is one steal away from Lou Brock’s record.

Canseco, who sat out Friday night’s game because of a headache, hit his first home run of the season in the eighth.

The Mariners are 0-5.

Baltimore 11, Texas 4--Cal Ripken hit two home runs and a triple and drove in a career-high seven runs at Arlington, Tex., as the winless Rangers lost their fourth in a row.

In the first three games, Ripken did not drive in a run.

Craig Worthington drove in three runs and hit a two-run home run for the Orioles.

Chicago 4, Detroit 1--Tony Phillips hit Jack McDowell’s first pitch for a home run at Detroit, but that was the extent of the Tigers’ offense.

Although McDowell (2-0) gave up only one more hit and struck out 10, the White Sox didn’t clinch their fourth victory in a row until they scored three times in the ninth.

Frank Tanana pitched well, too, but two hits and a walk loaded the bases with one out in the ninth in a 1-1 game. A slow roller netted one run and Tim Raines’ bloop single drove in two more runs.

The White Sox, who won’t dedicate the new Comiskey Park until Thursday, are 4-0--the only unbeaten team in the majors.

New York 9, Kansas City 8--The Yankees’ pitching improved barely enough to win at Kansas City.

An eight-run fifth inning enabled Tim Leary, who gave up seven runs in five innings, to get the victory. Steve Farr pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the save.

In the two previous games, the Yankees gave up 11 and nine runs, respectively.

Milwaukee 7, Toronto 3--Shortstop Bill Spiers is developing into something of a home run hitter for the Brewers. Spiers hit a two-run homer in the second inning at Toronto and the Brewers ended the Blue Jays’ four-game winning streak.

Spiers, who hit six home runs in his first 708 at-bats, has three in 17 at-bats this season.

The Blue Jays have lost two games this season, both by ace Dave Stieb.